West Virginia QB Will Grier to skip bowl game to prepare for NFL draft

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West Virginia Mountaineers QB Will Grier will not be playing in the Mountaineers' bowl game vs. Syracuse.(Photo: Reese Strickland, USA TODAY Sports)

West Virginia quarterback Will Grier announced Saturday that he will skip the Mountaineers' bowl game to prepare for the next stage of his football career — the NFL draft.

The Mountaineers are scheduled to play Syracuse in the Camping World Bowl on Dec. 28 in Orlando.

Grier led the Mountaineers to an 8-3 record this season, throwing for 3,864 yards and 37 touchdowns. He also ran for three scores.

Grier threw for 8,558 yards and 82 touchdowns during his career.

Against Syracuse, the Mountaineers will likely turn to Miami transfer Jack Allison as the starting quarterback. Allison has thrown just 10 passes this season, completing six of them for 75 yards and a touchdown.

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa wears a protective boot on his injured foot as he speaks to reporters after winning the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp honor. Tagovailoa was injured in the Southeast Conference championship game against Georgia. John Bazemore, AP